JSAR Runtime: Recent Developments and Community Update

July 2025 Community Update

We're excited to share some major developments in the JSAR runtime project! For those new to JSAR, it's a revolutionary browser engine library that brings modern web technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript/TypeScript) to spatial computing and XR development.

🎨 New Feature Highlight: CSS Gradient Support

Our latest release (v0.8.2) introduces full support for CSS gradients in spatial interfaces!

css

.spatial-card {
  background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, #ff6b6b, #4ecdc4);
  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 2px) rotateY(15deg);
}

This seemingly simple feature represents significant technical achievements:

Advanced CSS parsing for complex gradient syntax
GPU-optimized rendering across multiple backends (OpenGL ES3, OpenGL, Metal, D3D11)
Seamless integration with 3D transforms and spatial positioning

🚀 Recent Technical Improvements

Rendering Pipeline Overhaul (v0.8.0)

Discrete render passes for finer control
New lifecycle methods: onBeforeRendering, onOpaquesRenderPass, onTransparentsRenderPass, onAfterRendering
Enhanced context management with ContextGLHost/ContextGLApp

Performance Optimizations

ECS (Entity-Component-System) with improved query caching
GPU-driven element rendering
Complex UIs rendered in just 2 draw calls

Enhanced Developer Experience

Chrome DevTools integration for debugging spatial apps
Inspector API with /json/statistics endpoint
TypeScript support without configuration

🌟 What Makes JSAR Special?

For Web Developers:

Use your existing HTML/CSS/JS skills for XR development
No need to learn completely new frameworks
Standard web APIs work in 3D space

For XR Developers:

Easy integration with Unity (with more engines coming)
High-performance rendering optimized for XR
Cross-platform support (Android, macOS, Windows)

Technical Highlights:

Full WebGL 1.0/2.0 support with Khronos conformance
WebXR Device APIs for spatial tracking and input
Support for Three.js and Babylon.js out of the box

🛠️ Quick Start

bash

# Get started in minutes
git clone https://github.com/M-CreativeLab/jsar-runtime.git
cd jsar-runtime
npm install && make jsbundle
make darwin  # or android for mobile

Create your first spatial web app:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <style>
    .hello-world {
      background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea, #764ba2);
      padding: 20px;
      border-radius: 10px;
      transform: rotateY(15deg) translate3d(0, 0, 2px);
    }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <div class="hello-world">
    <h1>Hello Spatial Web!</h1>
    <p>This HTML content lives in 3D space.</p>
    </div>
</body>
</html>

🎯 Current Status & Roadmap

✅ Production Ready:

WebGL 1.0/2.0, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML5 elements
CSS layout and transforms, Audio playback
Unity integration via jsar-loader-unity

🚧 Active Development:

WebGPU support for next-gen performance
Video playback capabilities
Advanced WebXR features (hand tracking, eye tracking)

🔮 Coming Soon:

Unreal Engine loader
Web Components support
Enhanced debugging tools

🤝 Join Our Community

JSAR is open source and community-driven. We welcome:

Developers: Contribute code, report bugs, suggest features
Designers: Help us improve spatial UI/UX patterns
Educators: Create tutorials and learning resources
Early Adopters: Build amazing spatial web experiences

Get Involved:

⭐ Star us on GitHub
📖 Read the docs
🎮 Try Unity integration
💬 Join community discussions

🚀 The Bigger Picture

The spatial web represents the next evolution of computing. By 2030, we expect most digital interactions to have spatial components. JSAR is positioning web developers to be ready for this future by making spatial computing accessible through familiar web technologies.

Recent features like CSS gradients might seem small, but they represent our commitment to bringing the full richness of web standards to spatial environments. Every CSS property, every Web API, and every JavaScript feature that works on the traditional web should work in spatial contexts too.

Ready to build the future of spatial web?

The spatial web revolution is happening now, and it's built on the technologies you already know. Join us in making immersive computing accessible to every web developer.

🔗 Links:

JSAR Runtime - Bringing the web to spatial computing.

JSAR Runtime: Recent Developments and Community Update ​

🎨 New Feature Highlight: CSS Gradient Support ​

🚀 Recent Technical Improvements ​

Rendering Pipeline Overhaul (v0.8.0) ​

Performance Optimizations ​

Enhanced Developer Experience ​

🌟 What Makes JSAR Special? ​

🛠️ Quick Start ​

🎯 Current Status & Roadmap ​

🤝 Join Our Community ​

🚀 The Bigger Picture ​